Rameswaram is a town located in the Ramanathapuram district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated on Pamban Island, which is separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and lies approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka, across the Gulf of Mannar.
The town covers an area of 53 km² and had a population of 44,856 according to the 2011 Census of India. It has been administered by a municipal body since 1994. The primary sources of employment for the residents of Rameswaram are tourism and fishing.